Care and Commitment

William Meezan is Associate Professor at the Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago. Joan F. Shireman is Professor of Social Work, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. Both have extensive experience in child welfare services. Dr. Meezan's particular expertise is policy analysis, and Dr. Shireman has a background in direct services to children and families. These two perspectives are uniquely synthesized in this book.

• Preface1. IntroductionBackgroundAssumptionsThe FrameworkThe Inquiry2. Background of the StudyFoster Parents as Adoptive Parents - A Shift in PhilosophyThe Adoption DecisionConditions for Foster Parent AdoptionFailure of Foster Parent AdoptionsOutcome of Long Term Foster CareOutcome of Adoptions by Foster ParentsSome Conclusions3. The Design of the ResearchThe SettingDate Collection PatternThe SampleThe Sampling FrameworkSample Selection: The Children Adopted or Not AdoptedSample Selection: The Children Whose Adoptions FailedThe Final SampleThe Workers InterviewedThe Families InterviewedThe Instruments for Data CollectionInstruments for Sample Selection and ClarificationInstruments to Gather the General Ideas of the WorkerInstruments to Gather the Workers' Knowledge of the FamiliesInstruments to Interview the FamilyHiring and Training of InterviewersData CollectionData ReductionCoding ReliabilityData AnalysisSummary4. Parents and ChildrenThe FamiliesFamily CompositionAgeRaceSocio-economic StatusMotivations to FosterExpectationsLiving PatternsThe ChildrenGenderRaceAge at InterviewComing into CarePlacementsAge at Placement in This HomeTime in This HomeSpecial Needs at PlacementSpecial Needs at the Time of Adoption DiscussionThe Families Not InterviewedThe Families With Two Sample ChildrenSummary5. Becoming a FamilyThe Match of the Child and FamilyExpectationsThe Placement ProcessThe Child in the FamilyChanges in the ChildrenContact with the Biological FamilyBeginning to Decide About AdoptionThe Decision About AdoptionThe Child and Family Since the DecisionA Note on Changes in the FamilySummary6. The Agency ExperienceThe Agency Experience in GeneralHistory as Foster ParentsPreparation With WorkersThe Agency Experience Regarding the Specific ChildThe PlacementThe Adoption DecisionThe Worker-Family RelationshipInformationInvolvement in Foster Care ProcessesAdoption SubsidyService After the DecisionInterviewer's Judgment of Agency ServiceSummary7. Refining the Distinction Between Adopting and Non-Adopting Foster ParentsFamily CharacteristicsChild CharacteristicsParent-Child InteractionAgency Service VariablesThe Combined FactorsConclusions8. Foster Parent Adoptions That FailedThe Sample and Incidence of FailureThe Families InterviewedThe Children's HistoriesBecoming a FamilyThe Adoption DecisionThe Children at the Time of the Placement FailureThe Parents at the Time of the Placement FailureThe Disruption of the AdoptionThe Children and Their Families LaterConclusions9. The Workers, Their Attitudes, and Their Ideas About Foster Parent AdoptionsThe WorkersWork FunctionsExperience With Foster Parent AdoptionsWorking ConditionsFuture Career PlansThe Workers' AttitudesIndex ConstructionThe Specific AttitudesThe Interrelationship of the IndicesThe Workers' IdeasThe Adoption DecisionPriority in AdoptionPursuing Adoption for ChildrenAttachmentProblems in Arranging for AdoptionsAdoption FailureSummary10. Conclusions and ImplicationsThe FindingsPointers Toward AdoptionThe Partnership of Foster Parents and Social WorkersPreparation for Foster Care and AdoptionBiological Parent InvolvementAttachmentChildren's Special NeedsLow Income FamiliesBeyond the AgencyThe Role of the Social WorkersIndex